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Expert Q&A
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| By Michael F. Wasserman General Pediatrician | ||
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At what age do most newborns develop or show signs of colic?
Babies typically develop symptoms of colic between 2 weeks and 3 months of age. Colic is a "diagnosis by exclusion," which is to say that there is no test to diagnose colic. Rather, a parent and pediatrician should look first for other causes of pain in infants. Common causes include gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), feeding intolerance (e.g. cow's milk allergy) and urinary infection.
Just believing that your child has "colic" without exploring these other issues is probably unwise. But if, indeed, your baby has colic, first remember that this fades typically by 3 to 4 months of age.
But I go back to my earlier point that other diagnoses, notably gastroesophageal reflux, is a more common cause of this type of irritable infant.
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